The clarinet is one of the most versatile woodwind instruments available out there. The unique sound it produces to the portability, to the relative ease in playing it compared to other instruments in the woodwind family, is a top choice for individuals seeking to learn an instrument. It can also be played at various places, from the church, school band to an orchestra.
Picking a new instrument to buy can be a bit tasking as one is not only looking for good quality but for an instrument that fits into one’s budget. Whether you are a new player or you want to pick up the clarinet as a second instrument, there are a few things to keep in mind before getting the best clarinet for beginners. Below are reviews of 3 top clarinets available for purchase this year and a buying guide to help make the perfect choice. Let’s get started!
3 Best clarinet for beginner – Reviews
Jean-Paul USA CL-300 Student Clarinet
Jean-Paul is recognized as one of the leading brands in the production of musical instruments of high quality and still very durable. The Jean-Paul USA CL – 300 student clarinet comes with an ebonite body and nickel keys, and you can be sure of your instrument looking very new even after months and years of usage.
Key Features:
- It comes with accessories like a neck strap, cleaning cloth, Rico reeds, and cork grease.
- Portable case with handles on the top for easy carriage and enough room for accessories
- Nickel-plated keys which prevent tarnish for a more extended period
- Complete and robust playing soun
Yamaha YCL-255 Standard Bb Clarinet
Yamaha is a household name to both musicians and non-musicians due to their versatility in producing a lot of instruments with high quality guaranteed. The Yamaha YCL – 255 standard Bb Clarinet is made of solid resin, which makes the instrument lighter and easier to carry. This product comes with a new adjustable thumb rest which can be adjusted for different players and allows for an excellent technique to be developed.
Key Features:
- Different case types; hard case or semi-hard case
- Strap ring which enables the instrument to be held with little effort
- Adjustable thumb rest
- Mouthpiece included
The Medini Bb Clarinet is composed of a high-quality black plastic cast with nickel-plated sheets that gives it an exquisite and smooth design. This instrument is of high quality and is very good for beginner players to start with. It comes with a bonus pocketbook.
Key Features:
- Hard case
- Accessories included
- It comes with a clarinet pocketbook and foldable stand.
Best clarinet for a novice player – Buying Guide
Clarinet type
From the soprano, Bb, A, Eb, and bass clarinets, a beginner clarinet player has a lot of options to choose from. The Bb soprano clarinet is highly recommended for beginners because it is the easiest for novice players to start with. It is also the most popular clarinet type you would see out there as a lot of music for the clarinet is written for this type. It is used a lot by beginners due to its relatively light size.
Reed type
The reed is an essential part of most woodwind instruments like the saxophone and the clarinet. It is made from a cane, and it is placed on the mouthpiece of the clarinet, where it helps to produce sound. The reed you use is essential as it affects both the sound you make and the difficulty required to produce it.
There are two major types; hard and soft. Most professionals use the hard reed because of the high quality and full sound it produces. Beginners are advised to use a soft reed because it requires little resistance to blow through and would significantly improve your practice sessions.
Most reed manufacturers produce reeds in different sizes and strengths, with the slightest soft and the highest number is hard. Each number given to one differs in increments of 1.5. Beginners are advised to start with a reed with the number 2. Rico and Vandoren are two highly recommended brands.
Joints
The Joints of a clarinet attach one piece of the instrument to the next. There are five different parts in a clarinet; mouthpiece, barrel, upper joint, lower joint, and barrel. The joint that attaches to each part is covered by a cork. The cork helps to hold each piece together tightly to prevent one element from disassembling from the other while playing to ensure the holes and keys are aligned properly.
When choosing an instrument, ensure to attach each part together to ascertain that they fit together perfectly. It is possible to replace all the corks of an instrument, but that can be expensive, which is why it is better to get a clarinet with good corks from the onset.
Keys and pads
The keys of the clarinet should not be ignored when you are choosing an instrument to buy. The keys are what you press on to make a particular note, and they are attached to a pad that closes a corresponding hole. You must ensure to test the instrument out to make sure the pads cover each hole well and that the keys are in good condition.
The keys may also be plated with nickel or silver. Which plate to use depends on personal preference, but nickel plates are more durable than silver plates. They do not tarnish quickly and maintain their shine for a more extended period of time.
Bell
You want to ensure that you are getting an instrument that is in excellent condition, as this reduces the need for servicing later on. The bell is the most inferior part of the clarinet. Check the inside of the bell that there are no scratches which frequently occurs in instruments that are played in a band.
Final Thoughts
What is the best clarinet for beginners? Well, there’s clearly a lot of choice out there. The right one for you depends on the type of clarinet you want and the budget you have. We’ve looked at three great options here and all of them could claim to be the best clarinet for beginners. All you need to do is choose your favourite and enjoy your new instrument!